Candyman

Candyman is a throwback 90’s horror, mystery, thriller written by the horror master Clive Barker. I’ve heard recently that producer Jordan Peele bought the rights to do a remake. We’ll have to see how good that project goes.

The legend here is that the son of a slave, having been mistreated and disfigured by his father has become a killer, immortalized in urban legend as “The Candyman.” The story is great, the kills are repulsive … everything I like in a horror movie. The creepiness is not really present but the soundtrack works like a calliope to give it just a bit of that.

Helen Lyle, played by Virginia Mardsen, does a foxy job chasing an urban legend. Being early in her career in 1992, it makes sense the director got her to reveal so much. It seems once they get really famous (as in the X-Files level) studios have to offer much more in the contract. Anyway, she’s a beautiful actress less skin or more. In this case, there happens to be more. She is researching “The Candyman” urban legend that states if a person looks in the mirror chanting “Candyman” 5 times, she/he will be slaughtered with a hook

Helen discovers that the Candyman sees her as a reincarnation of a past lover. This leads to a very satisfying closing act. The ffects are cheap looking and the kills are often not believable. Still, I found this film amazing and I look forward to the upcoming remake. 8/10.